bystanders

plural of bystander
as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bystanders Three bystanders injured in a firefight in the Home Depot parking lot. — Patricia Murphy, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Additional video appeared to show bystanders rushing toward the scene to detain the suspect, who was outside the camera's view. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 The attacker was injured as bystanders detained her at the scene, police said. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 3 Oct. 2026 The moments leading up to the shooting were captured by bystanders as well as Ross, a 10-year ICE veteran, whose cellphone video starts with him in front of Good’s burgundy SUV. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 The woman then walked to a nearby gas station where bystanders helped her and notified police. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 The victim fell to the ground and stopped breathing and had to have CPR performed by bystanders, the report says. — Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026 The verbal altercation turned physical when the 82-year-old allegedly struck the young woman in the face, prompting the younger man and other bystanders to retaliate, witnesses told the BBC. — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The bystanders begin trying to help the man and call Evanston police. — Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystanders
Noun
  • Having the airport closed meant more space for balloons and spectators.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The giant pumpkin competition will take place Saturday, with pumpkins weighing more than a ton weighed in front of spectators throughout the day, according to the release.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • That his name was leaked as a prospective future CEO to drama-seeking observers only set off erroneous ripple effects of speculation that Solomon was headed out the door.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Both developments create concerns among some observers that the companies are overseeing inflated volumes or, at worst, are experiencing wash trading, in which traders collude to buy and sell an asset to create a false sense of economic activity.
    — Davis Giangiulio,Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Having Pugh playing a character who is, by her very nature, hesitant to reveal her truth is an interesting choice that puts the onus on everybody around her who doesn’t recognize what is so obvious to viewers.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Verizon is committed to offering a wide variety of diverse programming across our lineup, while also protecting our viewers from unjustified price increases.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bystanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystanders. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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